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Happy Hoosier

(9,287 posts)

21. I haven't watched this series yet (I'll binge it later), but...

Reply to dflprincess (Original post)

Tue Nov 18, 2025, 11:02 AM

12 hrs ago

one thing that is great about Burns, and is why his approach to presenting history is among my favorites. He can both present the weaknesses and fallibility of historical figures, AND express admiration and highlight their better qualities. Acknowledging the failures of our history does not mean we can't embrace the aspirations our founders had, even as they fell far short of them.

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Highlight:

Ken Burns "American Revolution" discussing Washington's slave owning [View all] dflprincess Monday OP

This is so well done JustAnotherGen Monday #1

I'm glad he's portraying the founders as the miscreants that they were. BannonsLiver Monday #2

Miscreants? How about fallible humans who were a product of the times they were living in? Rafi 13 hrs ago #18

You read it right - fucking miscreants. BannonsLiver 13 hrs ago #19

I don't think Burns would agree per se ITAL 12 hrs ago #22

That's great. BannonsLiver 12 hrs ago #25

I'm not sure I buy the "they were products of their time" argument when it comes to slavery. Aristus 13 hrs ago #20

+1 leftstreet 12 hrs ago #23

Some of them reviled slavery misanthrope 11 hrs ago #32

John Adams never owned a slave 31st Street Bridge 10 hrs ago #34

We are watching it now Tree Lady Monday #3

I'd hope that Burns respected Temporal historical relativism... WarGamer Monday #4

There are certain truths that transcend time. DemocratSinceBirth Monday #7

He's presenting facts that have been ignored for a long time nt dflprincess Monday #8

Like my husband says Tree Lady Monday #9

In my role as a historian Historic NY 12 hrs ago #26

Slave ownership by the Founding Fathers isn't exactly a secret. Paladin 12 hrs ago #24

My thought was the right wingers are gonna hate this. CanonRay Monday #5

That means it's good 31st Street Bridge 10 hrs ago #35

Hey, anyone know, what time do they repeat tonight? (early AM) Jack Valentino Monday #6

I thought it was tv only Tree Lady Monday #10

My TV guide says moondust Monday #11

Thanks, but seems it is already repeating on-air- here at 1:52 EST..... Jack Valentino 22 hrs ago #13

Times for documentary Lydia Leftcoast 21 hrs ago #14

Streaming Episodes Available Now Tom_Foolery 17 hrs ago #17

The slavery mentions moondust Monday #12

I recall hearing about Patrick Henry Lydia Leftcoast 21 hrs ago #15

Any man can make himself a king Stacey Grove 20 hrs ago #16

I haven't watched this series yet (I'll binge it later), but... Happy Hoosier 12 hrs ago #21

Slavery never stopped GreatGazoo 12 hrs ago #27

Washigton did free his slaves by his Will Historic NY 12 hrs ago #28

Washington was a complicated character Retrograde 11 hrs ago #29

He found it hard not to grant him requests. Historic NY 11 hrs ago #31

The more I learned about Virginian Founding Fathers misanthrope 11 hrs ago #33

Oh my, I am shocked to learn that the founding comradebillyboy 11 hrs ago #30